Oil reclaimer



w. c. scHwALGE 2,785,169

OIL RECLAIMER March 12, 1957 Filed March 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l March12, 19.57

Filed March 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2,785,109 ou. RECLAIMR WilliamCfSchWalge, Prairie View, Ill. Application Maren 14, 195s, serial No.494,164 12 claims. (ci. 19a-1s) This invention Vrelates to an oilreclaiming device; and

' in particular it relates to an oil reclaiming 'device which is'adapted for vinstallation in modernvrnotor vehicles.

It'h'a's been well known for many years that the conventionalbil filtersused in internal combustion engines are of only limited value becausethey provide'no means of removing light diluentsor 4water from the`oil.This requires some sort of a vaporizing unit in addition to the filter.

The 'principal object of the present invention isto provide anoilreclaiming device which is adapted for installation in modern passengervehicles in which the exhaust manifold is so positioned that it can notbe reached Vvas a source of'heat for operating the vaporizing mechanismofthe reclaimer.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a reclaimer in-which partof the oil flow from a filter comany heating means'for the vaporizingunit. This is accomplished in one embodiment of the invention byextending an air vent lto a position close to the vaporizing memberltoconduct hot air from the air stream outside the reclaiming device overthe vaporizing surface ofthe vaporizer.

A further object of the invention is to provide an oil reclaimer inwhich the Vaporizing chamber is of very small height,'so thatthe overallheight of a unit including a` filter and a vaporizing chamber thereaboveis little greater than the height of a filter alone.

A further object of the invention is to` provide a single basicstructure with which leither an electrically heated vaporiiing unit oran air stream heated vaporizing unit may be employed depending upon thelo'cal'conditions.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred and an alternativeembodiment in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig 1 is a central vertical sectional view of the preferred embodimentof the invention;

Fig. 2 is arsection taken as indicated along the line-2 2 of Fig. 1; andY Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section of the vaporizing chamber of an oilreclaimer provided with the alternative form of vaporizing Vdeviceheretofore referred to.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and referring first to Fig.1, a reclaimer unit has a deep drawn sheet metal body 5 which has afiltercompartment l6 in its lower portion and a vapo'rizing chamber 7 inits upper en d portion. At the bottom of the filter compartment 6 is aboss 8 to receive a central oil inlet'pipe9 which extends axiallythrough the entire body 5 from bottom to top, and is connected at itslower end to Va fitting 10 for an oil inlet 11. An oil drain pipe 12 isprovided,

United States Patent Patented Mar. 1'2, 1957 with a suitable valve. Thefilter compartment 6 is shown in the drawings as filled with loosefilter material 13;

but it is obvious that `a filter cartridge could be substi-v tuted forthe loose filter material if desired. The oil inlet-pipe 9 has a pair ofopenings 9a to admit oil to the filter chamber 6 immediately Vabove thenipple 8, and oil passing through the openings 9a may ow through theholes in a foraminous plate 14 and upwardly through the filter material13. Above the plate 14 are additional .holes 9b through which oil maypass into the-filter maferial, and still farther up are holes 9c and 9d.If desired the pipe 9 may be provided with radial bafiies 15 and 16 toforce the oil to flow outwardly through the outer portion of the loosefilter material 13. Obviously the 'arrangement of bafiles could not beused in conjunction with a filter cartridge unless the bafes were anintegral part of the cartridge instead of being fastened to the oilinlet pipe 9.

On top of the filter material 13 is a felt pad 17 held down by aperforatefilter plate 18 yand a solid diverter plate 19 which has radialribs 19a bearing on the lter plate to'leave a space 20 between theplates. Thus the plates 18 and'19, spaced by the ribs 19a, in effectform a hollow floor for the vaporizing chamber '7. The filter plate 13is of smaller diameter than the felt pad, so that the margin of the padis elevated as seen in Fig. l. lust below the level of the felt pad 17the oil inlet pipe 9 is provided with aplug 21 which prevents any oilfrom passing directly through theV oil inlet pipe into the vaporizingchamber 7.` Thus all the oil mustA pass through "the 'filtermaterialandthrough the felt pad 17; and'from the space 20 between the plates theoil may pass through oil return holes 22 into a vaporizer feed portion9e of the oil inlet pipe 9. Immediately above the diverter plate 19 aresmall oil by-pass holes 23 through which some oil may pass to the top ofthe diverter plate, While near the upper end of the vaporizer feedportion 9e are oil feed holes 24 for permitting oil to tiow onto avaporizing unit, indicated generally at 25. Thus, part of the oil maypass through by-pass holes 23 and flow to an oil return line 26 withoutpassing over the vaporizing unit 25, while the balance of the oil iiowsthrough the oil feed holes 24 onto the vaporizing unit.

, Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the vaporizing unit 25 has a pluralityof legs 27 which stand on the diverter plate 19, and a frusto-conicalsheet metal top 28 which, as seen in Fig. 2, has concentric corrugations29. The

top 28 acts as a vaporizing surface over which Oil from the feedholes 24may fiow in a thin film. Beneath the vaporizing top plate 2S is anelectric heating coil 30 below which is 'a packingconsisting of anysuitable heat resistant material 3,1 .such yas asbestos. The vaporizingunit 25 is firmly held down on' the diverter plate 19, and the diverterplate and filter'plate 1S are pressed Vagainst the felt pad ,'17 byVmeans of a wing nut 32 whichscrews onto a thread yon the vapori'zer feedportion 9e of the oil inlet pipe and bears on a washer 33 to clamp thevaporizing unit in place.

Surmounting the heating chamber 7 is a top closure 34 which has ab'ossSS'sui-roundi'ng a `'central opening to accommodate a Wing` nut'36which screws ontoa' projecting stud 37 which plugs the top of oil inletpipe 9 just above oil feed holes 24. The'hating coily Si) has a' pair of`rigid electric contacts 38`Which extend upwardly `in line'withanropening 39 finthe closure 34, and a pair of armored cables 40 securedto the 'contacts extend Vupwardlythrough the opening 39 and aresurrounded by an insulating plug 39a through which the `cables '49 mayslide when the closure 34 isremovedfrom the unit.

Exteriorly of the closure 34 the .cables arewired into 'a'sealedthermostat unit 41 which is mounted in anop'ening in the closure 34 sothat its inner face is inside the chamber 7; and wires 42 and 43 connectthe thermostat louter end portion 45 turned horizontally toward thefront of the vehicle so as to take air from the air stream passingaround the oil reclaimer. The inner end 46 of the inlet pipe 44 isdirected at the vaporizing unit 25 so as to assure rapid removal ofevaporated materials from the `vicinity of the vaporizing surface 28.Preferably a small ne mesh dust filter screen 47 covers the front ofthe'air inlet pipe 44. Cooperating with the air inlet 44 is an airoutlet 48 which has its outer portion 49 directed rearwardly so that theair stream passing thereover helps sustain a rapid air iiow through thevaporizing chamber 7 to remove vaporized impurities.

The operation of the device is believed to be obvious from the foregoingdescription. After oil passes through the filter material 13 and thefelt pa'd 17 it reenters the vaporizer feed portion 9e of the oil inletpipe 9 through the openings 22, and passes upwardly through said portion9e where some of it escapes from the pipe through the by-pass holes 23and some passes through the feed holes 24 and spreads in a thin filmover the vaporizing surface 28 of the vaporizing unit 25 so as to havethe low boiling diluents and water removed from it. The thermostat 41 isset to maintain the temperature within the evaporating chamber 7 nohigher than about 250, so that the oil does not become excessively hot.Oil whichrows over the vaporizing unit 25 and also the oil which flowsthrough the by-pass 23 is discharged on top of the diverter plate 19 andout to the oil return line 26.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the second form of the invention is exactlylike the rst embodiment except for the fact that it has an unheatedvaporizing unit 125.

The vaporizing unit 125 in the present form of the device consists of aforaminous, annular supporting wall 127 within which is mounted aplurality of parallel, rforaminous, frusto-conica1 plates 128. The units25 and 125 are exactly the 'same height and diameter so that they may beinterchanged in the same vaporizing chamber depending on the localconditions which are encountered in the use of the oil reclaimingdevice. Y

The second form of the invention is particularly adapted for use in thehot southwest parts of the United States during the summertime when thehot, dry air entering the air inlet pipe 44 is quite adequate tovaporize any undesirable diluents or water from the oil passing over thevaporizing surfaces 128. Because of the lower temperatures employed, thevaporizing area of the alternative unit 125 needs to be substantiallygreater than that ofthe electrically heated unit 25, and this isaccomplished by employing the plurality of foraminous plates 128 whichpermit the oil to ow from one plate to another.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness Ofunderstanding only and no unnecessary limitations are to be understoodtherefrom, as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in theart.

I claim:

l. In an oil reclaimer: a vaporizing chamber having a oor and aremovable closure; a vaporizing unit in said chamber having an inclinedvaporizing surface over which oil may ow in a thin film; oil inlet meansin the floor of the chamber through which oil may enter said chamber;

means associated with said oil inlet means for permitting a portion ofthe oil admitted to the chamber to ow over said vaporizing surface; anoil outlet; a bypass for conducting all but said portion of the oil tothe outlet Without flowing over the vaporizin g surface; means forvaporizing impurities from the oil owing over the vaporizing 4 Ysurface; and vent means through which vaporized im purities may escapefrom the chamber.

2. The device of elaim'l in which the means for vaporizing impuritiescomprises an electric heating member beneath the vaporizing surface.

3. The device of claim l in which the means for vaporizing impuritiescomprises an air inlet constructed and arranged to conduct air from anair stream outside of the chamber onto the vaporizing surface.

4. In an oil reclaimer: a vaporizing chamber having a oor with a centralaperture and a removable closure; a vaporizing member in Y said chamberhaving a frustoconical vaporizing surface over which oil may flow in athin film and a central 'aperture aligned with that in the floor of thechamber; an oil inlet pipe extending through said apertures, said pipehaving an oil receiving opening beneath the oor and a pair of oil feedholes, one of said feed holes being positioned to feed oil over thefrustoconical vaporizing surface and the other being ajbypass hole; anoil outlet adapted to receive oil fed from both feed holes; means forvaporizing impurities from the oil flowing over the vaporizing surface;and vent means through which vaporized impurities may escape from thechamber.

5. The device of claim 4 in which the vaporizing surface comprises aplurality of vertically spaced plates provided with openings throughwhich oil may pass downwardly from one plate to another, and the meansfor vaporizing impurities comprises an air inlet constructed andarranged to conduct air from an Vair stream outside the chamber ontosaid plates.

6. The device of claim 4 in Whichrthe means for vaporizing impuritiescomprises an electric heating member beneath the vaporizing surface, andthermostat means are provided to limit the maximum temperature withinthe chamber.

7. In an oil reclaimer: a vaporizing chamber having a hollow floor intowhich oil may pass from an oil filter, and a central aperture in saidfloor; a removableclosure for said vaporizing chamber provided withjvent means; a vaporizing member having a frusto-conical vaporizingsurface over which oil may flow in a thin film and a central aperturealigned with that in theoor of the chamber; an oil inlet pipe extendingthrough said apertures, said pipe having an oil receiving opening withinthe hollow oor and a pair of oil feed'holes, one of said holes beingbeneath the vaporizing member to serve as a by-pass and the other ofsaid feed holes being positioned to feed oil over the vaporizingsurface; an oil outlet adapted to receive oil fed from both'feed holes;means for vaporizing impurities from the oil owing over the vaporizingsurface and vent means through which vaporized impurities may escapefrom the chamber.

8. In an oil reclaimer: a vaporizing chamber having a floor with acentral aperture and a removable closure; a vaporizing Ymember in saidchamber having a frustoyconical vaporizing surface over which oil mayflow in a thin lm and a central aperture aligned with that in the oor ofthe chamber; an oil inlet pipe extending through said apertures, saidpipe havingV an oil receiving opening beneath the floor and a pair ofoil feed holes, one of said feed holes being positioned to feed oil overthe frusto-conical vaporizing surface and the other being a by-pass holebeneath the vaporizing member;'an oil outlet adapted to receive oil fedfrom both feed holes; means for vaporizing impurities from the oilflowing over the vaporizing surface; and vent meansthrou'gh'whichvaporized impurities may escape from the chamber. Y

9. In an oil reclaimer: a cup-like body having an oil inlet at thebottom; a iilter'compartment in the lower portion of the body; .avaporizing chamber in 4the body which has a loorV above saidltercompartment; a removable closure for the body; a vaporizing unit insaid chamber having an inclined vaporizing surface over which oil mayflow in a thin film; oil outlet means in the side wall of the cup-likebody which is positioned to receive oil which has passed over saidvaporizing surface and oil which has by-passed said surface; oil inletmeans in the floor of the chamber adapted to cause a part of the oilfrom the lter compartment to ow over the vaporizing surface and toby-pass a part of the oil from the filter compartment directly to theoil outlet means; means in the vaporizing chamber for vaporizingimpurities from the oil flowing over the vaporizing surface; and ventmeans through which vaporized impurities may escape from the chamber.

10. In an oil reclaimer: a cup-like body having an axial oil inlet atthe bottom; a transverse partition dividing said cup-like body into alower tilter compartment and an upper vaporizing chamber, said partitionbeing imperforate except for an axial opening; a removable closure forthe cup-like body; an oil conducting pipe extending from the oil inletupwardly through the axial opening in the partition to the upper portionof the vaporizing chamber, said pipe having a plug a short distancebelow the partition, outlet holes below the plug, a filtered oil returnhole above the plug and below the partition, a by-pass hole above thepartition and a vaporizing oil feed hole in the upper portion of thevaporizing chamber; filter means in the filter compartment; spacer meansbetween the ilter means and the partition to form a space through whichoil may ow into the oil return hole of the pipe; a vaporizing unitmounted on said partition, said unit having an inclined vaporizingsurface over which oil from the vaporizing feed hole may pass in a thinfilm; means for vaporizing impurities from the oil flowing over thevaporizing surface; an oil outlet through which all oil which enters thevaporizing chamber may leave the cup-like body; and vent means throughwhich vaporized impurities may escape from the chamber.

11. The device of claim l0 in which the means for vaporizing impuritiescomprises an electric heating member beneath the vaporizing surface.

12. The device of claim 10 in which the means for vaporizing impuritiescomprises an air inlet constructed and arranged to condut air from anair stream outside of the chamber onto the vaporizing surface.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,703,648 Van Brunt et al. Feb. 26, 1929 2,336,021 La Brecque Dec. 7,1943 2,348,247 Dushane May 9, 1944 2,377,988 Braun June 12, 19452,392,548 Pogue Jan. 8, 1946 2,425,377 La Brecque Aug. 12, 19472,645,607 Allen July 14, 1953

1. IN AN OIL RECLAIMER: A VAPORISING CHAMBER HAVING A FLOOR AND AREMOVABLE CLOSURE; A VAPORIZIGN UNIT IN SAID CHAMBER HAVING AN INCLINEDVAPORIZING SURFACE OVER WHICH OIL MAY FLOW IN A THIN FILM; INLET MEANSIN THE FLOOR OF THE CHAMBER THROUGH WHICH OIL MAY ENTER SAID CHAMBER;MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID OIL INLET MEANS FOR PERMITTING A PORTION OFTHE OIL ADMITTED TO THE CHAMBER TO FLOW OVER SAID VAPORIZILNG SURFACE;AN OIL OUTLET; A BYPASS FOR CONDUCTING ALL BUT SAID PORTION OF TH E OILTO THE OUTLET WITHOUT FLOWING OVER THE VAPORIZING SURFACE; MEANS FORVAPORIZING IMPURITIES FROM THE OIL FLOWING OVER THE VAPORIZING SURFACE:AND VENT MEANS THROUGH WHICH VAPORIZED IMPURITIES MAY EXCAPE FROM THECHAMBER.